1. THE AIDS SUPPORT ORGANIZATION TASO TASO Uganda (Ltd). P.O Box 10443, Kampala Tel: +256 414 532580/1, Fax +256 414 541288 Email: mail@tasouganda.org. Website: www.tasouganda.org The Youth Link, a Service delivery model in getting HIV/AIDS services to the adolescents (10-19 Years) - The AIDS Support Organization (TASO) experience. Authors: Aanyu Caroline, Tebigwa Betty, Logose Barbra 19 th June 2015

2. THE AIDS SUPPORT ORGANIZATION TASO TASO Uganda (Ltd). P.O Box 10443, Kampala Tel: +256 414 532580/1, Fax +256 414 541288 Email: mail@tasouganda.org. Website: www.tasouganda.org  The Youth Link is a designated place at the health facility where adolescents meet and share on various issues affecting them  All adolescents are welcome to the Youth Link  A fellow adolescent is always available during working days to offer the necessary support

3. THE AIDS SUPPORT ORGANIZATION TASO TASO Uganda (Ltd). P.O Box 10443, Kampala Tel: +256 414 532580/1, Fax +256 414 541288 Email: mail@tasouganda.org. Website: www.tasouganda.org Map of Uganda showing TASO sites MmM

4. THE AIDS SUPPORT ORGANIZATION TASO TASO Uganda (Ltd). P.O Box 10443, Kampala Tel: +256 414 532580/1, Fax +256 414 541288 Email: mail@tasouganda.org. Website: www.tasouganda.org Background  The highest proportion of new HIV cases occurs between the ages of 10-19 years (Uganda AIDS Commission Report - 2014)  Adolescents are becoming sexually active at a young age thus increasing the risk of HIV amongst this group.  Most of the adolescents are unwilling to seek medical care and HCT despite the increased global commitment to control and prevent the HIV/AIDS epidemic

5. THE AIDS SUPPORT ORGANIZATION TASO TASO Uganda (Ltd). P.O Box 10443, Kampala Tel: +256 414 532580/1, Fax +256 414 541288 Email: mail@tasouganda.org. Website: www.tasouganda.org Background cont  The service delivery models for adolescent care are still a challenge in most Health facilities  This model therefore aimed to explore the impact of the Youth Link on the up take of HIV/AIDS services by adolescents

6. THE AIDS SUPPORT ORGANIZATION TASO TASO Uganda (Ltd). P.O Box 10443, Kampala Tel: +256 414 532580/1, Fax +256 414 541288 Email: mail@tasouganda.org. Website: www.tasouganda.org Program description:  TASO started a Youth Link in 2013 alongside the Pediatric and adult clinic  Handles adolescents between the ages of 10 to 19 years  Registration,Counseling, HCT, referral services, Peer education, testimony sharing, play, among others are activities carried out by trained personnel  A fellow adolescent represents the others at the governess board. Adolescents having a group session with a counsellor

7. THE AIDS SUPPORT ORGANIZATION TASO TASO Uganda (Ltd). P.O Box 10443, Kampala Tel: +256 414 532580/1, Fax +256 414 541288 Email: mail@tasouganda.org. Website: www.tasouganda.org Lessons learned  The number of adolescents accessing HIV/AIDS services has increased from1594 in 2013 (859 Female, 735 Male) to 1839 in 2015 (997 Female, 842 Male)  This model has encouraged numerous children and adolescents handle HIV related challenges such as reproductive health, disclosure, adherence, HCT, among others with out stigma or discrimination  Peer educators have been mentored hence improvement of sexual behavior among the adolescents.

8. THE AIDS SUPPORT ORGANIZATION TASO TASO Uganda (Ltd). P.O Box 10443, Kampala Tel: +256 414 532580/1, Fax +256 414 541288 Email: mail@tasouganda.org. Website: www.tasouganda.org Conclusion  With the introduction of the Youth Link model at TASO Mbale, it has enormously contributed to the up take of HIV/AIDS services by the adolescents.

9. THE AIDS SUPPORT ORGANIZATION TASO TASO Uganda (Ltd). P.O Box 10443, Kampala Tel: +256 414 532580/1, Fax +256 414 541288 Email: mail@tasouganda.org. Website: www.tasouganda.org Acknowledgement  Organizers of the PSS conference, Zimbabwe  Ministry of Health (Uganda)  TASO donors  TASO management team and staff  The adolescents  TASO clients.

10. THE AIDS SUPPORT ORGANIZATION TASO TASO Uganda (Ltd). P.O Box 10443, Kampala Tel: +256 414 532580/1, Fax +256 414 541288 Email: mail@tasouganda.org. Website: www.tasouganda.org In Partnership With;